One decorating principle thatís a huge help for any homeowner is that of layered lighting. This is the different aspects of lighting that youíll use in different rooms of your home to complete your lighting needs. The layers of light create a basis for the design of the room. These three main aspects of lighting also have a practical purpose which is nice as well. Below, youíll learn more about the three main components of lighting for any room of the house and how to best use them.

Ambient Lighting

Ambient lighting is often the base of where people start with their lighting design in a room. This type of lighting allows you to get the overall feel for a space. The brightness level should be good enough for anyone to walk through the room without walking into things. The illumination may not be bright enough for activities that require a lot of focus like reading or chopping vegetables.

Accent Lighting

If you think of a retail store and how the shiniest things have the brightest lights focused on them, youíll discover that you can use this type of lighting right in your home. Think of a chandelier hanging over a massive dining table. Accent lighting is usually for decorative purposes. The lumens that are given off are typically not enough for any other purpose than to attract attention to the item the light is shining on. This type of lighting is best used for things like display cabinets, statues, and china closets. The bottom line is that the accent light will add some drama without actually adding much practical use.

Task Lighting

This type of lighting is important because itís what ensures that you wonít chop your hand off while youíre chopping up vegetables in the kitchen. Task lighting varies widely from room to room and can be anything from a desk lamp to a reading lamp to lights on the vanity for shaving and putting on makeup. Task lighting is all about being functional. When youíre trying to decide where to put your task lights think of everything from safety to convenience. The last thing you should worry about with task lighting is the look. While these lights are great under cabinets, for example, so the more creative you get with where to place your task lighting the better the look will be.

Using this simple yet useful design principle can help you to light your entire home correctly. The right lighting can truly transform a space and give it the depth that it needs.

One of the most difficult decisions to make when refinishing a room is how much of a current trend to inspire your choices. Jumping in with two feet can be fun and certainly create a wow factor. However, trends can also quickly become outdated and if youíve invested a lot of time and money into a particular one you will also have to spend a lot of time and money to change it.

Luckily, this isnít an all or nothing situation. So whether your current obsession is mid-century modern or shabby chic you can satisfy your style preference without making a top to bottom change in a few months or years.

To start, keep bigger items like the wall color, flooring, and furniture neutral in both style and color. What I mean by this is to choose furniture that is inspired by or similar, but simpler, to a more trendy piece. And neutral doesnít have to mean beige. Blacks, grays, blues, browns, whites, and creams with just a hint of the desired hue are perfect multitaskers that transcend both trends and time.

For example, if you want pink for a blush-toned creme or for green a sage infused blue. If youíre craving color black and white create the perfect canvas for colorful accessories to really pop and make a statement. Navy and charcoal are neutral but underutilized colors that allow you to give a little push style boundaries.

Bring in those pops of color with accents. Wall art, decor, throw pillows, curtains and bedding are perfect ways to do just that. Incorporate your favorite new colors and patterns throughout the room for a consistent look and not as if you haphazardly placed pieces as an afterthought.

The best part of using these details to infuse your trend of choice is that they enable you to go as bold or subtle as you like. Curtains or a comforter in a bright color or a bold print capture the eye immediately. Throw pillows and wall art, on the other hand, make for a room filled with personality.

Itís always fun to incorporate trends when we are decorating. It gives the room your unique brand of personality and brings the space to life. Cleverly choosing your larger items to remain understated to allow your trendy pieces take the spotlight is the perfect way to join in while also staying flexible if you tire of it or want to change things up down the road.

Youíll also be making a more budget-friendly project by choosing neutral tones for your investment pieces. They will be able to carry over decades to come while transcending, for the most part, the many trends it is sure to outlive.

There's a lot to love about a builder grade home, for example, the fact that it is newly built and doesn't come with the host of issues of an older home. However, these homes can lack in the personality department since the focus†when being built was on the†budget and not magazine worthy style. Keep reading to discover how you can add stylistic flair to your home without draining your bank account.
Light fixtures. Changing light fixtures by either replacing them completely or painting them can make a huge difference in a room. Picking up a few cans of rubbed bronze or satin nickel spray paint will give a modern touch without breaking the bank. Doors. Replace or reface generic hollow core doors. You can reface flat doors by adding molding or get creative with a can of paint and a roll of painterís tape and make the illusion that you have a raised panel door. Beadboard paired with molding is another great combination that adds personality to your doors without the major price tag.Stairs. Strip carpeting to expose treads and risers. Hereís where you can let your imagination go wild. Pick up some cans of paint and add a unique touch to your staircase by painting railings and †risers to add a pop of color. Avoid painting your stairs all one color to avoid a bland look. You can even paint a faux runner to really add a unique touch. Cabinets. †Replacing cabinets is always an option albeit a pricey one. If youíre happy with your cabinet layout you have a few diy options available. Variation can be the spice of life. Try removing some cabinet doors to keep things open or installing some glass paneled doors. Paint is always an option whether professionally sprayed or done by yourself. Another easy way to add some personality to builder grade cabinets is by updating hardware. Look for knobs and handles at antique shops to add a unique touch on a budget.
Millwork. Molding, wainscoting, and beadboard. Oh, my. With this trio on your side, the possibilities for customization are endless. Frame a plain bathroom mirror, add chair rails or extend baseboards. With a little creativity, you can even recreate the look of coffered ceiling or paneled doors. If you are unsure of where to start, try looking through some home magazines for inspiration.
Wallpaper. Wallpaper gives you endless options for adding flair to the walls of your home. Add a pop of color with bright, bold patterns or texture with paintable varieties. If you donít want to make a commitment to wallpaper or the idea of scrapping it if you change your mind fills you with dread there are now a plethora of temporary wallpaper options.
Tile. Hexagon and subway tiles are both guaranteed to add a modern feel to your home. However, your options today are endless no matter your budget. Explore the selections at your local home improvement store and donít rule out materials fabricated to recreate a stone or wood finish. After all, thereís no need to empty your wall out just to get the look you want.
Just because youíve fallen in love with a builder grade home doesnít mean it needs to stay quite so basic. If you want to add a touch of modern style to your home a little creativity and paint can go a long way. Donít forget to sit back and enjoy all your hard work when youíre finished!

Itís difficult to tackle so many projects throughout your home without feeling overwhelmed. This is why itís a great idea to take each part of the house piece by piece. Thereís plenty of quick updates that you can make to your bedroom without breaking a sweat. The idea is to make little changes that have a big impact. Here, weíll show you some easy updates that will make a big difference in your bedroom.
Use Color To Your Advantage
Adding bursts of color is the easiest, yet the most often overlooked decorating technique. You can add bits of color all over your bedroom. From small accents like picture frames and vases, itís simple to add some color here and there. It will make a huge impact on the room.
Feel Your Way Around The Room
The textures you use in your bedroom is important to how comfortable the room feels. You can mix and match the linens in your bedroom from the type of throw you use to the type of rug thatís present on the floor. Youíll want to consider changing these a few times a year to match with the seasons. Warmer, fuzzier linens are best for the winter whereas lighter linens are perfect for summer.
Suit Your Style
Thereís different textures and different items that match up with certain styles and themes. If youíre going for a more romantic feel, consider using velvets and cozy looking throws. Leather gives a more rustic feel whereas blown glass and antique-finished woods provide the feel of country living. If youíre looking for more of a modern bedroom, try teak wood, smooth leather and even plastic touches to achieve your look.
Change Your Accent Pillows And Shams
Thereís something to be said for simply changing the pillows in your bedroom. Any throw pillows or pillow shams that are present in your bedroom could use a change each season or two. This will give you a fresh perspective instead of the same old tired bedding and accents. These simple changes can make a noticeable difference in your bedroom. Making these changes will also give you something to look forward to each and every season.
Change Your Window Treatments
Changing your curtains along with the seasons is a great idea as well. In the colder months, you may want to hang more insulated curtains to hold the heat in your room. In the summer months, light and airy curtains will help you to beat the heat.
Make It Personal
Your bedroom is the perfect place to hang your treasured photographs and artwork. Change up the pictures in your frames and the artwork on the walls every so often so that you can keep your memories flowing with goodness. Youíll get tired of staring at the same artwork day after day. By mixing it up, youíll be able to showcase all of your favorite things throughout the year!